About

Classic City Paw Print is a project started by Amanda Newsom:

Living in Athens since 2003, I attended the University of Georgia where I received bachelor degrees in journalism and anthropology and a masters in management of nonprofit organizations. I stuck around town to work with various nonprofit organizations, including the Athens Area Humane Society, Nancy Travis Childcare Project, Northeast Health District and The Orianne Society. I’m also very proud to be a volunteer for the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team and for RedRover Responders, for which I’ve deployed nine times to help during natural and man-made disasters. I also volunteer locally and particularly love when I gets the chance to spend time with the dogs and cats awaiting adoption at the Athens-Clarke County Animal Control.

A life-long friend to animals, I grew up with a zoo of pets from the time I was little—dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters and even domesticated skunks. Like every kid who loves animals, I thought I would go on to be a veterinarian… but having pet skunks opened my eyes to the world of animal rescue, and I was hooked. I realized that not everyone who gets a pet takes the time to understand how to care for them or to give them the attention they need as a forever family member. My mom and I took in skunks from people who were in over their heads with an exotic pet, skunks that had been neglected or abandoned, and sick skunks from pet stores. We even wrote a book together to share with skunk owners so they could learn more about how to care for them, which was a resource not available at that time. When I went off to college, my mom continued this hard work, and I began to volunteer for other rescues and nonprofits which grew my love for the nonprofit sector, as well.

I wanted to share a brief bit about my background with you because I want people who read Classic City Paw Print (or consider advertising in it) to know how much this project means to me. It’s a way for me to do something I love while helping local adoptable pets to gain more attention and therefore spend less time in shelters or foster homes ideally.

There are several animal rescue groups in the area, but we all have the same goal to find loving homes for unwanted animals and to help reduce pet overpopulation. I want to bring some of these groups together in one place to feature their adoptables so we can show the community the different resources they have to find the best new pet for their family. I also want this magazine to encompass a wider goal of promoting responsible pet ownership through articles that can help pet parents (or potential pet parents) and to promote compassion for all animals through articles about wildlife and even animal-friendly recipes.

Amanda

Morgan with her pup, Sadie.

Morgan Solomon, Editorial Intern

Hello all! My name is Morgan Solomon. I am currently studying public relations and fashion merchandising at the University of Georgia. Growing up, my home was never without a furry companion. I have had a love for dogs since a young age that continued to grow to all animals as I got older. Unfortunately, I am allergic to most animal dander, but a runny nose and itchy eyes has never stopped me from petting a dog. As an Athens native, I am thrilled to be a part of the Classic City Paw Print family and have the opportunity to promote animal rescue awareness and education in our community!